1. Introduction to the text
This article discusses the growing public anger in France towards the government’s austerity measures aimed at reducing the country’s massive debt. The iconic Eiffel Tower has even been forced to close due to the unrest, as protesters demand the resignation of President Macron.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 최악 | choeag | worst | The “worst” Eiffel Tower has also closed its doors. |
| 에펠탑 | eppeultap | Eiffel Tower | The symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower, has closed its doors. |
| 문을 닫았다 | munul dadassda | closed the doors | The Eiffel Tower has closed its doors. |
| 분노가 | bunnoega | anger | The people’s anger towards the French government is growing. |
| 정부를 | jeongbuneul | the government | The people are shouting “Down with Macron” against the government. |
| 정부가 | jeongbuga | the government | As the government declares austerity measures, the people’s anger is spreading like wildfire. |
| 마크롱 | makcheullong | Macron | The people are shouting “Down with Macron” against the government. |
| 퇴진 | toejin | resignation | The people are shouting “Down with Macron” demanding his resignation. |
| 성난 | seongnan | angry | The roads are filled with angry citizens. |
| 규탄하는 | gyutanhaneun | condemning | They are raising their voices to condemn the government. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
프랑스의 상징인 에펠탑마저 문을 닫았습니다. 정부를 향한 국민들의 분노가 점점 커지고 있기 때문입니다.
The symbol of France, the Eiffel Tower, has also closed its doors. This is because the people’s anger towards the government is growing.
정부가 부채 감축을 위해 긴축 재정 정책을 발표하자, 국민들은 “부자들만 배불려놓고 서민들을 희생시킨다”며 분노를 표출했습니다.
When the government announced austerity measures to reduce debt, the people expressed their anger, saying “They are just fattening the rich while sacrificing the common people.”
수많은 시위대가 도로를 가득 메웠습니다. 그들은 깃발과 플래카드를 들고 정부를 규탄하는 목소리를 높였습니다.
Countless protesters filled the streets. They raised their voices to condemn the government, holding flags and placards.
정부의 공공지출 삭감 정책에 반대하며 벌써 3번째 전국적인 시위가 벌어졌습니다.
This is the third nationwide protest against the government’s public spending cut policy.
리디아 베르네 시위 참가자는 “정치적 어려움이 생길 때 가장 먼저 타격받는 건 결국 노동자들”이라고 말했습니다.
Lydia Verne, a protester, said, “When political difficulties arise, it is ultimately the workers who are hit the hardest.”
마크롱 대통령에 대한 “퇴진” 요구가 높아지면서 프랑스 정부는 심각한 위기에 직면했습니다.
As demands for the “resignation” of President Macron are increasing, the French government is facing a serious crisis.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- Why did the Eiffel Tower close its doors?
- What are the people’s main complaints against the government’s policies?
- How have the people expressed their anger towards the government?
- How many nationwide protests have there been against the government’s public spending cuts?
- What did the protester Lydia Verne say about the impact of political difficulties on workers?
5. Cultural and historical notes
The Eiffel Tower is an iconic landmark of Paris and France, and its closure due to public unrest is a significant event. The protests reflect the deep divisions in French society and the challenges facing the government in implementing austerity measures. The demand for President Macron’s resignation shows the level of public discontent with the current political leadership.